External cushion protector for bumper of a parked vehicle

ABSTRACT

A portable cushion protector which is easily attachable to and detachable from the rear portions of an automobile and which protects its rear bumper from scratches and other damage while it is parked. The cushion protector has supporting mechanisms which may be advantageously attached to the automobile trunk for holding the cushion securely in place upon the bumper.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to automobile bodies andspecifically to a new and improved portable, collapsible cushionprotector which is easily attachable to and detachable from the rearportions of an automobile for covering and protecting the rear bumper ofa parked automobile from scratches and other damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Significant developments have been made in the field ofautomobile body design. For example, many automobile bodies now have“crumple zones” for absorbing a substantial portion of the kineticenergy of colliding vehicles in order to provide additional protectionto passengers. Many automobile bodies are now composed of lightweightmaterials, e.g., aluminum composites, to improve fuel efficiency and toenhance the handling and performance of the vehicles. An unfortunatedrawback of such developments, even though the bodies are safer, is thatthe bodies have also become somewhat fragile. Body damage may now resultfrom light collisions, often requiring expensive repairs.

[0003] The bumpers of modern automobile bodies have similarly becomemore fragile, a result of changes to their configuration. Earlierbumpers were generally heavy metallic structures often with thick rubberouter layers for protecting automobile bodies from all light collisions,e.g., a collision between a parked automobile and an adjacent parkingautomobile. In contrast, modem bumpers are relatively lightweight andare largely non-metallic. A modem bumper may comprise an inner core ofan expanded polystyrene thermoplastic foam material and a thin rubberand/or plastic outer shell layer.

[0004] Additional “improvements” have been made to modern automobilebumpers. Whereas earlier front and rear bumpers were typically clearlydistinguishable from the respective front and rear regions of automobilebodies, modern bumpers are often less distinguishable therefrom becausethey are integrated into the overall body designs. Some modern bumperseven comprise internal structures housed within the envelope of thefront and rear regions of automobile bodies. A dent or other deformationin such a bumper is now likely to affect the “lines” of the body, inturn giving the appearance of body damage to the vehicle (as opposed tothe appearance of damage to only the bumper of an earlier vehicle).

[0005] In further contrast with the earlier bumpers having thick blackrubber outer layers, the outer layers of modern bumpers are typicallypainted to match the overall color schemes of automobile bodies. Even asoft strike or scrape against a modern bumper can damage the paintthereon. As a result, the paint job of the overall vehicle may appearflawed. However, it is likely that the same soft strike would have beenentirely absorbed by earlier bumpers without any damage thereto. Inaddition, whereas a blemish on an earlier bumper was relativelyinconspicuous, a blemish on a painted bumper is now more noticeable.

[0006] An automobile is particularly susceptible to bumper damage whileparking and, as often as not, while parked and left unattended in aparking lot. A parked automobile may be stricken by another vehiclewhich parks adjacent to it. Even light strikes may damage modernbumpers, whereas earlier bumpers would have been invulnerable to suchstrikes. For individuals who try to maintain their automobiles inimmaculate condition, these strikes are very frustrating occurrences.Thus there is a need for a means of providing reliable protection tomodern automobile bumpers.

[0007] Earlier proposed protectors are disclosed in the prior art. U.S.Pat. No. 5,072,979 to Swinton discloses a protective structure withmagnets for securing the structure to an automobile side panel. Theprotective structure remains attached to an automobile when it isdriven. U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,296 to Crocker discloses a vehicle bumpercushion with hook members for clamping and securing the cushion to abumper, which cushion remains attached to an automobile when it isdriven. U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,073 to Criscione discloses a fabric orleather automobile bumper protector for shielding a rear bumper. TheCriscione protector, which remains attached to an automobile when it isdriven, is held in place across the rear bumper by straps which arelooped through specially configured external attachment handles affixedto each of the automobile's rear wheel wells. Thus the automobilerequires modification; specifically, the handles must be permanentlymounted within the wheel wells, e.g., by the use of sheet metal screws.The location of the handles leaves little room for a user's fingers tomanipulate the straps thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention comprises an improved external cushionprotector for automobile bumpers and for the surrounding portions ofautomobile bodies. It is more quickly, more easily, and more safelyattachable to and detachable from a parked automobile. The improvedcushion protector of the present invention is specially configured forparked automobiles, especially the rear bumpers thereof, and fits thebumpers of most makes and models of modern automobiles withoutmodification to their bodies. It is portable, is easily stored, and iseasily and quickly attached to and detached from an automobile body.Because the cushion protector is not designed to remain attached to avehicle when it is driven, the protector has securing means (forsecuring the protector upon an automobile) which advantageously are notrequired to hold the protector to the vehicle as tightly as otherdesigns, e.g., the Criscione device. The securing means of the presentprotector are thus especially easily and quickly attached to theautomobile. The protector includes no components which might otherwiseremain visible after the protector is detached from the vehicle. In apreferred embodiment, the cushion protector is collapsible in order toallow still simpler and less conspicuous storage and transport and tooccupy less space inside an automobile trunk when not in use.

[0009] As a very important aspect of the present invention, the securingmeans include supporting mechanisms specially configured for attachmentto the trunk or hatch space of a parked automobile. (Hereinafter, thephrase “trunk door” encompasses hatch doors, tailgates, and the like forrespective automobiles of different types.) The supporting mechanismsadvantageously provide the function of supporting the weight of thecushion in order to hold the cushion securely upon the rear bumper. Thesupporting mechanisms are advantageously attached to the rear portionsof a parked automobile in a manner which prevents the removal of theprotector unless and until the trunk door is opened (presumably by anauthorized user of the vehicle). The cushion is preferably composed ofthree interconnected segments of a rigid material, and the supportingmechanisms are preferably flexible. The cushion may also be configuredto protect regions of the automobile body in addition to the bumpers,e.g., regions of the body proximate the front and rear bumpers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cushion protector of thepresent invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cushion protector of FIG. 1attached to the rear region of an automobile.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cushion protector of FIG. 1attached to the rear region of an automobile, wherein the trunk door ofthe automobile is ajar.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cushion protector of FIG. 1attached to the rear region of an automobile.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cushion protector of FIG. 1folded into a collapsed and flat unit for easy transport.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thecushion protector of FIG. 1 folded into a collapsed and flat unit foreasy transport, wherein the sections of the protector are fastened toeach other with webbing.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thecushion protector of FIG. 1 folded into a collapsed and flat unit foreasy transport, wherein the sections of the protector are fastened toeach other with external mechanical fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the cushion protector of the presentinvention, designated generally by reference numeral 10, includes a bodyportion 20 (or cushion) and securing means 30. The body portion 20 hasan outer wall 21 and an inner wall 22. The body portion 20 is preferablycomposed of a three individual segments of lightweight polystyrenethermoplastic foam or plastic material having a cross-sectional shapesuch as the curved shape shown. The depth of the foam material ispreferably between approximately one and five inches, but may alsoexceed this range in either direction. A layer of soft cushioning (notshown) may be fastened to the inner wall and/or outer wall of the bodyportion to provide additional protection to the automobile body. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, the body portion 20 includes three interconnectedindividual structures, namely a central section 40 and two flaring sidesections 50. The side sections 50 are attached to the central section 40by hinges 250 for allowing the angle between each side section 50 andthe central section 40 to be adjusted, thus permitting a user to conformthe shape of the overall body portion 20 of the cushion protector 10 tothe bumper of most automobile bodies. The hinges 250 also permit thecollapsing of the body portion 20 into a flat structure. The sidesections may further be advantageously configured to be removable fromthe central section.

[0018] The securing means 30 preferably include two supportingmechanisms 60 as well as two magnetic strips 70. The supportingmechanisms 60 are specially configured to support the weight of thecushion in order to hold the cushion securely upon the desired region ofan automobile, typically its rear bumper. When the protector is in use,the supporting mechanisms 60 are gripped securely by the trunk of theautomobile.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows the cushion protector 10 attached to the rearportions 15 of an automobile 90. One method of attaching the cushionprotector 10 to the automobile 90 comprises a 4-step procedure, which ishereinafter described for attachment to the rear bumper. First, the reartrunk door 100 is opened. Second, while the trunk door 100 is ajar, thesupporting mechanisms 60 are placed beneath the rear lip 102 of thedoor. Third, the trunk door 100 is shut on top of the supportingmechanisms 60 in order to pinch the supporting mechanisms between therear lip 102 of the trunk door 100 and the automobile body. Fourth, thebody portion 20 of the cushion is lowered onto the desired region of theautomobile (i.e., its rear bumper), and the magnetic strips 70 areattached to the automobile body proximate the wheel wells 110—butadvantageously not within the wheel wells 110. It can be appreciatedthat the supporting mechanisms 60 and the magnetic strips 70 of thepresent invention are very easily and quickly attached to the automobilebody.

[0020] The supporting mechanisms 60 are advantageously pinched betweenthe trunk door 100 and a trunk seal, which is typically a rubber seal onthe automobile body and which lies flush against the trunk door whenclosed. This grip is sufficiently tight to hold the supportingmechanisms 60 securely, which in turn support almost all the weight ofthe cushion. Moreover, when the body portion 20 of the cushion protector10 is stricken, the supporting mechanisms 60 are seldom released by thetrunk door, instead continuing to hold the cushion in place. Because thetrunk seal is generally flexible, e.g., comprised of rubber, its shapeconforms to the supporting mechanisms 60 to prevent water from enteringthe trunk chamber while the cushion protector is attached to theautomobile. The supporting mechanisms 60 are preferably thin andflexible in order to prevent harm to and deformation of the flexibletrunk seal. Thus the flexible seal returns to its original shape afterthe supporting mechanisms 60 are removed from the trunk, and the sealthus continues to prevent water from entering the trunk.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting configuration of the cushionprotector 10 in a preferred embodiment comprises supporting mechanisms60 having apertures 80 engageable by hooks or the like, which may bemounted within an automobile trunk for removable insertion into theapertures. Specifically, two hooks 200 are mounted semi-permanently tothe inner rear wall 210 of a trunk, e.g., by screws (not shown). Thehooks are advantageously unnoticeable when the trunk door is shut. Asupporting mechanism 60 may be easily attached to a hook 200 byinserting the hook into a respective aperture 80 along the supportingmechanism 60. When the cushion is thereafter attached to the bumper, thehooks provide additional support for securing the cushion as well as forholding the cushion over the bumper in a collision. The supportingmechanisms may advantageously remain attached to the hooks as thecushion is transported inside the trunk, further facilitating andincreasing the speed of the process of attaching and detaching thecushion. Several apertures 80 are provided along each supportingmechanism 60 for allowing the effective length of the supportingmechanisms to be adjusted, permitting the cushion to be adapted to manydifferent sizes and styles of automobile bodies. Once the desiredaperture is selected and mounted to a hook, the cushion is convenientlyattached to and detached from the bumper many times without any need forfurther adjustment to the position of attachment, and without removingthe supporting mechanisms from the hooks. Therefore, as a furtheradvantage of the present mounting configuration, the cushion does notrequire re-positioning over the bumper each time it is attached thereto.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the side sections 50 of the cushion areenlarged to cover additional regions of the automobile body proximatethe bumper to provide additional protection to the body. The sidesections are also collapsible for easy storage in the trunk of anautomobile. Specifically, hinged connections between the central section40 and each respective side section 50 allows the side sections tocollapse, providing a flat structure which is easily transported. FIG. 5shows the side sections 50 of the cushion in such a folded position,wherein each side section has a mitered edge 260 attached to arespective mitered edge 265 of the central section by hinges 250. Thehinges 250 are advantageously positioned between the central section 40and the respective side section 50 in a manner that prevents the hinges250 from contacting the automobile body and otherwise potentiallycausing damage to the body in a collision. FIG. 6 shows an alternateembodiment of the cushion protector in a folded position, in which theside sections 310 of the cushion are attached to the central section 300with webbing 320, e.g., nylon webbing, attached to the outer wall 330 ofeach respective section by an adhesive such as epoxy. In contrast withthe embodiment of FIG. 5, the embodiment of FIG. 6 is collapsed byfolding the side sections outwardly by approximately 270 degrees, ratherthan inwardly by approximately 90 degrees. The webbing 320 in FIG. 6 mayinstead be attached to the inner wall 340 of each section of thecushion, whereby the protector would collapse by folding the sidesections inwardly and the mitered edges of each section would preventthe side sections from folding outwardly. FIG. 7 shows a furtheralternate embodiment of the cushion protector in a folded position, inwhich the side sections 410 are attached to the central section 400 byexternal mechanical fasteners, such as external hinges 420 (which appear“internal” in FIG. 7 because the cushion is folded and the outer wall430 of each side section 410 is in contact with the outer wall of thecentral section 400). The embodiment of FIG. 7 may be easily collapsedby folding the side sections 410 of the protector outwardly byapproximately 270 degrees, in a manner similar to that in the alternateembodiment of FIG. 6.

[0023] The central and side sections of the cushion can be individuallysized and shaped to fit snugly onto the front and rear regions ofautomobiles of virtually all shapes and sizes. The cushion can alsocomprise a pneumatic, inflatable structure, or preferably threeinterconnected inflatable structures (a central section and two sidesections) flexibly connected to each other, e.g., by webbing. Theinflatable structure is very lightweight and portable when it isdeflated. A portable electric pump may be used for inflating thepneumatic structure and may be conveniently powered by the automobilebattery via the automobile's cigarette lighter. The cushion 20 mayfurther include a centrally disposed portion formed from a transparentpolymer, which portion provides visual access to a license plate that ispositioned in a recess within the bumper. It is also contemplated thatthe cushion protector of the present invention may be used to protectother portions of a vehicle, e.g., their front bumpers, as well asportions of other types of vehicles, e.g., motorboats while they aredocked.

[0024] It can be appreciated that the many non-metallic components ofthe cushion are not susceptible to rust, and that the cushion issufficiently durable and elastic to provide considerable protection tothe automobile body. The cushion is moreover simple and economical tomanufacture, and can be manufactured from off-the-shelf components.

[0025] While preferred embodiments of the external cushion protector ofthe present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,those who are skilled in the art will appreciate that variousmodifications, additions and substitutions are possible, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the cushion protector as setforth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:
 1. A protective cushion protector for easy attachment to anddetachment from rear portions of an automobile, comprising: (a) acushion; and (b) securing means attached to the cushion, wherein thesecuring means include at least one supporting mechanism for releasableattachment to the automobile and for supporting the cushion over a rearbumper of the automobile.
 2. The cushion protector of claim 1, whereinthe securing means include two flexible supporting mechanisms.
 3. Thecushion protector of claim 2, wherein the cushion has a central sectionand two flaring side sections.
 4. The cushion protector of claim 3,wherein each flaring side section is connected to the central section bya hinge.
 5. The cushion protector of claim 3, wherein each flaring sidesection is connected to the central section by webbing.
 6. The cushionprotector of claim 3, wherein the securing means further include twomagnetic strips, wherein each magnetic strip is attached to a singlerespective side section of the cushion for securely attaching therespective side section to the automobile.
 7. The cushion protector ofclaim 1, wherein the cushion is rigid.
 8. The cushion protector of claim7, wherein the cushion is composed of a polystyrene thermoplastic foammaterial.
 9. The cushion protector of claim 2, wherein each of thesupporting mechanisms has an aperture for removable attachment tointerior hooks.
 10. The cushion protector of claim 2, wherein each ofthe supporting mechanism has at least two apertures for removableattachment to interior hooks.
 11. The cushion protector of claim 10,wherein the securing means include hooks for semi-permanent attachmentto an inner rear wall of an automobile trunk for releasable engagementof the supporting mechanisms.
 12. The cushion protector of claim 11,wherein the supporting mechanisms are composed of a fabric.
 13. Thecombination of a protective cushion protector and an automobile, theautomobile having a trunk, comprising: (a) a cushion; (b) securing meansattached to the cushion, wherein the securing means include at least onesupporting mechanism releasably attached to rear portions of anautomobile for supporting the cushion over a rear bumper of theautomobile.
 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the securing meansinclude a hook which is attached to an inner rear wall of an automobiletrunk, wherein the supporting mechanism has an aperture, and wherein thehook is inserted through the aperture.
 15. A method of attaching acushion protector to an automobile body for providing protection thebody, wherein the cushion protector includes a cushion and securingmeans attached to the cushion, wherein the securing means include atleast one supporting mechanism for attachment to rear portions of anautomobile and for supporting the cushion, comprising: (a) opening atrunk door of the automobile trunk; (b) placing the supporting mechanismbeneath the trunk door while the trunk door is ajar; and (c) shuttingthe trunk door on top of the supporting mechanism for pinching thesupporting mechanism between the trunk door and the automobile body. 16.A protective cushion protector for easy attachment to and detachmentfrom an automobile, comprising: (a) a cushion; and (b) securing meansattached to the cushion, wherein the securing means include at least onesupporting mechanism for attachment to the automobile and for supportingthe cushion.